The week's developments in green tech & energy policy, explained | 13.07.24

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This week, we explore how AI's appetite for energy is putting tech giants' climate pledges to the test, how scorching summers are sending holidaymakers scrambling for cooler destinations and why some experts, including Bill Gates, remain optimistic about AI's role in our climate future.

Elsewhere we spotlight clever startups using AI to tackle climate questions, sort your rubbish, and even turn seawater into a swift carbon-trapping solution.

We hope you enjoy these stories and more below.

Top Stories

🤖 Bill Gates: ‘Let’s not go overboard’ on worries about AI energy use. Bill Gates argues AI's energy needs won't derail climate goals. He views the tech boom as a catalyst for clean energy, with Big Tech paying a "green premium" to accelerate its development.

💲Reducing carbon emissions pays off:  A report by the London Stock Exchange Group reveals that companies focused on reducing carbon emissions have delivered a whopping 198% return on investment over the past decade. This positions the green economy as the second-best performing sector, just behind the booming tech industry.

🚗 Cleaner air = more independence: A US study found a link between air pollution, particularly traffic-related, and the need for elderly care. Researchers estimate 730,000 Americans lose independence annually due to air pollution.

Chart of the Week

Source: Mckinsey & Company

Data centres are projected to guzzle 35 gigawatts of power annually by 2030, a number over three times higher than their current consumption.

Climate Change

⚡ AI is testing Silicon Valley’s climate pledges: Google's efforts to be carbon neutral by 2030 are at risk due to a surge in emissions from data centres powering its AI products. Emissions have jumped nearly 50% in five years, and the company itself admits they're facing significant challenges to achieve their climate goals.

🥵 My escape is going north: Europe's scorching summers are changing tourist habits. With heatwaves and wildfires intensifying, many travellers are opting for cooler destinations. A third avoid areas with extreme temperatures, with Scandinavia seeing a surge in bookings.

🌎 Harnessing climate tipping points: A new report by the World Economic Forum challenges the traditional approach to climate action. Instead of focusing on slow, incremental progress, it proposes harnessing "positive tipping points" – rapid shifts that can trigger a domino effect of climate action.

Stat of the week 

Microsoft's carbon footprint surged by

80%

in 2023 compared to 2020, driven largely by their expanding AI operations. Despite this setback, Microsoft President Brad Smith insists they remain committed to their environmental goals.

Green Tech

🤖 The Washington Post made an AI chatbot for questions about climate: Need to know if solar panels are a good fit for your home, or where sea levels are rising fastest? The Washington Post is now offering "Climate Answers", an AI chatbot on its website and app.

♻️ There’s a smart way to put AI in the trash: Restaurants are using high-tech AI-powered trash cans to track exactly what gets thrown away, from veggie scraps to leftover fries. This data helps kitchens identify areas for improvement, like reducing portion sizes or using more of each ingredient.

🧈 'Butter' made from CO2? A US startup called Savor is creating "synthetic" fats like butter from captured carbon dioxide. This could free up farmland, reduce emissions, and even provide a food source in emergencies.

🌱 New extremely fast carbon storage technology: Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a faster, greener way to store captured carbon dioxide. This new method uses seawater and a special catalyst to rapidly form carbon dioxide hydrates – icy materials that trap CO2, preventing it from entering the atmosphere.

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In case you missed it

Hydrogen is the new energy darling, but experts warn of its inefficiency. Is this "miracle fuel" more hype than substance

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